If you are in a position where you will be seeing different people throughout the week consider wearing the same outfit / suit / shirt & slacks a couple times in the same week. Sales people, field customer support people and other client-oriented professionals see different people every day of the week. If you’re in that type of position wear the same thing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if the articles are still fresh and unsoiled. Wear an alternate outfit on Tuesday & Thursday. At the end of the week everything gets cleaned and the next week you wear a different set of clothes (or not). You save time getting dressed in the morning, you save money by cleaning things periodically and not too much, you save time visiting the dry cleaners less often, and you reduce wear and tear on your clothes from cleaning fluids and activity. With this strategy I suggest you buy clothes that you really love, flatter you, and are well made. That way you’ll feel as good as you look!

In developing a life that is streamlined our use of credit cards and ATMs can have a notable impact. Visitng the ATM take a bit of time, using the ATM more than once every couple of weeks can really burn time and the little charge you might pay each use could surely be better spent contributing to your happiness. So, some atm suggestions:

• Visit an atm once every 2 weeks, max. Take out enough cash for the whole two weeks. Put a couple of days worth of cash in your wallet and stash the rest in the top drawer of your desk at home.
• Rather than going to an ATM, get the cash while you’re at the grocery store or another retail place you have to go to anyway – provided they don’t charge you a fee for the priviledge. Most will allow you to pay for your purchase and take out extra.
• Consider paying for more purchases with your ATM card to reduce using greenbacks. This also allows you to review your spending when you receive your monthly statement. Compared to cash receipts that get wadded up and thrown away the summary statement can be eye-opening or help you complete your expense reports.
• Use only no-fee ATMs
• Be sure your ATM provider has a card that works where you travel. Mine has served me well across Europe, in Costa Rica and Peru, and around s.e. Asia. Overseas I use it to withdraw cash (with no fee) and get the bonus of the banks’ exchange rate – typically better than the street rate.

You’ve lost your assistant or maybe you never had an assistant. Today you type all your own emails, input your call reports, and create and polish your PowerPoint presentations – all at the keyboard of choice. Since typing is one of the key ways that you communicate you should have that skill as one of your sharpest. Honed typing skills result in

• Result 1: You communicating fully rather than via shortcuts (when it’s a pain or slow to type, you don’t type or don’t type enough)
• Result 2: Racing through your projects efficiently
• Result 3: Ability to focus on content

If you’re under 22 years old you’re wondering why I’d bother to suggest anyone sharpen their typing skills. For those of us in the sandwich generation, it could be an ah ha moment because we did not grow up with a keyboard under our fingers. My mom had a click-clack manual Royal typewriter when I was a kid, Selectric typewriters by IBM were a treat of my high school typing class, and computer keyboards have been under my fingers since college. I type somewhere around 80 words per minute (wpm) and find producing output is automatic. Personal productivity is amplified with speedy typing skills.

Since you’re able to lower your golf score by practicing – you practice (or call it another outing).
If you want to improve your presentation skills – you practice.
After you first got behind the wheel of a car you practiced driving so much that you don’t even think about driving anymore.
And, it’s time for you to sharpen your typing skills via practice since you want to get better – otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog.

You might try software such as Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Currently in it’s 17th revision it has been polished, updated, and refined to get you typing better and faster. Typingtudor.net offers a free touch typing course. I cannot endorse any particular typing tudor because I don’t use them. The important thing is that whatever motivates you to spend a little time daily sharpening your typing skill – do it and move toward improved productivity.

Spent the week before Easter in Belize, Central America. Packing was unusual – no ipod and charger, no headphones, no Treo and charger, no camera charger (the battery will last for hundreds of photos), no hair dryer and no portable computer with power supply. I had no problem staying below the luggage limit – in fact, my suitcase came aboard with me. Each thing left behind gave me a bit more freedom. My time was totally my own. My desk was tidy and arrangements for coverage while I was gone were set. Now that’s a break and vacation!

You’re probably wondering how bad it was when I returned. Thanks to the auto responder at my email provider notifying people that I was out of the country, no one was disappointed to wait until my return. The 178 messages in my inbox were managed within an hour of returning to my keyboard.

Today’s tip: if your email system allows, when you’re on vacation have it reply to emails sent to you. Include in the message that you’re out and when you’ll return, where you are (it makes for great conversation and a personal touch), and thanks for writing. Here’s a sample: [Subject:] Susan is unavailable. [message] Thanks for writing. Susan is in the jungle of Belize where there is no internet connection. She will return on April 17 and be in touch with you shortly after that.

Have you tried unplugging lately? Comment here and share your experience…

This blog is written for professionals who feel they have too many balls in the air and stress from their mountain of commitments and responsibilities. It is intended to reach you if you’re ready to hear tips & techniques to making your work life better. Be prepared – improved work life leads to improved personal life!

We’re the Productivity Café to represent the atmosphere you’ve entered. It’s the place you get away from your daily environment to talk with your friends and colleagues. Kick back, grab a cup of coffee, and exchange some useful info and random thoughts to help you get things done.

Be productive at your work.
Be organized in your office (even if it’s the back seat of your car).
Balance work and personal life.
Feel efficient.
Be ‘on top of the world’ where the view is remarkable.

Have some fun!
Welcome!